Backlog of my quickfire movie impressions (Stars = Opinion of quality, Thumbs = Whether I liked it or not) Interstellar - Christopher Nolan knows how to shoot a film and present an image, and that is no different with Interstellar. This film is gorgeous, and during particular set pieces I was honestly breathtaken. The issues with the film are in its pacing, tendency to break its own rules, and the many plot holes. With such care and attention to detail given to the relationships of the main character and the extended physics spiels in the first half of the film, it felt as if Nolan couldnt quite settle on how best to reach the final emotional climax he was setting up from the beginning. The films script is all over the place, with truly gut wrenching moments, genuinely hilarious moments, and then out-of-the-blue lines and decisions that had no on-screen context. But even if you dont end up liking this film, Interstellar is a film that you will most probably appreciate having had the chance to watch. (Potential spoiler alert: the last third isnt confusing plot-wise if you accept that this is a Science Fiction film. Thats not what I have in view here in my criticisms of the plot and script.) // 3 Stars, Thumbs Up. Exodus: Gods and Kings - I dont mind the idea of adapting biblical narratives for different mediums (if I want the actual story then Ill read the biblical account). And, in fact, the way Scott presents the plagues on screen is admirable. But this film fails to present a coherent narrative, clear character motivations, or even an engaging pace. The action is sub-Scott, the characters seem miscast (except for Edgerton and Kingsley), and the plot doesnt make sense if you have no background of the Exodus story (e.g. The last 5 minutes are outrageous in a film of such high production values. There is zero explanation of what is happening, but those familiar with the Bibles story will understand). This is not a good film. // 1 Star, Thumbs Down. Big Hero 6 - Great filmmakers know that absolutely everything on screen matters because there is an economy of space in the picture, and you are crafting a world through perception. Animators tend to have a better grasp of this because of the fact that they need to individually design and render every part of the image. Big Hero 6 is Disney at its finest visually, realising a dazzling alternate world, and forming characters that move and emote with distinctive personality. This film is a delight to watch, with heartwrenching moments and exhilarating set pieces. Its definitely aimed for a younger audience but, typical Disney, it can be enjoyed by anyone. Apart from the two main characters (H and B) the other characters and their motivations arent fully formed or resolved, and this is especially true of the villain (FYI, I consider The Incredibles to be the benchmark in how to introduce, define, and give satisfying plot arcs to a roster of animated characters). But ultimately its a fun romp that achieves what it sets out to achieve, and youll want your own personal healthcare companion by the end of it all. // 4 Stars, Thumbs Up. The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies - And its over. The Hobbit trilogy comes to a close with this final installment, once again demonstrating how there should never have been three films. This film drags under the weight of having too long a duration and not enough genuine drama to fill it. Its good entertainment, and Jacksons skill and ability to stage and tell the story of a huge battle is on display here. The action is shot and edited clearly, and thats truly commendable. However the CGI oscillates from beautiful to bad, and there are shots where the makeup and prosthetics are poorly applied (eg seeing the outline of where the plastic meets the skin). And for all the action and spectacle, I did feel like weve been down this path before visually; it didnt feel like a new film. Thankfully the score was solid and the audio top notch. But overall I think this is a satisfying finish to what has been a mediocre trilogy. That being said, I didnt like the film very much. // 3 Stars, Thumbs Down.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 09:40:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015